Trump Under Fire For Targeting India While Letting China Off The Hook

Just hours after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order slapping a fresh 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, doubling total levies to 50 per cent, the Trump administration came under increasing pressure to explain why India, and not China, was targeted, despite China importing significantly more Russian oil.

When asked whether similar penalties were planned against China, Trump was noncommittal: “Could happen,” he said on Wednesday.

“It’s only been eight hours... You’re going to see so much secondary sanctions.” But the vagueness only deepened the perception of double standards in Washington’s approach.

In a widely shared TV interview later that evening, Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro appeared visibly caught off guard when pressed on why the administration was punishing India but sparing China.

Despite Beijing importing over 108.5 million tonnes of Russian oil last year—more than double India’s volumes, Navarro sidestepped the question repeatedly. “We already have high tariffs on China. We don't want to get to a point where we actually hurt ourselves,” he said, fidgeting, as the anchor pressed him for a consistent rationale.

The confusion only reinforces the belief that the move is politically motivated.

Trump invoked emergency presidential powers to target India for what he called “continued purchase of Russian oil despite repeated warnings.”

The executive order, effective in 21 days, grants sweeping powers to monitor and potentially sanction other countries, though no others are named.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs called the move “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,” saying its imports are based on market considerations and aimed at ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people. India also pointed out the US and the EU continue their non-essential trade with Russia while asking the country to stop essential energy trade.

With neither clarity nor consistency coming from the White House, analysts say the latest move reflects the Trump administration’s readiness to weaponise tariffs not for global stability, but to reward loyalty and punish defiance.